UPSC IAS Archives

1. Consider the following statements : 1. The Legislative Council of a

Consider the following statements :

1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State.
2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of Legislative Council of that particular State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct option is D (Neither 1 nor 2). Both statements regarding the Legislative Council are incorrect according to the Indian Constitution.

– Statement 1 is incorrect. Article 171(1) of the Constitution stipulates that the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall not exceed one-third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State. It also states that the total number of members in the Legislative Council shall in no case be less than forty. Therefore, the size of the Legislative Council is limited to one-third of the Assembly’s size, not half.
– Statement 2 is incorrect. Article 182 of the Constitution states that the Legislative Council shall choose two members of the Council to be respectively Chairman and Deputy Chairman thereof. The Chairman of the Legislative Council is elected by the members of the Council from amongst themselves, not nominated by the Governor.

The system of having a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) is bicameralism at the state level. Not all states have a Legislative Council. Creation or abolition of a Legislative Council in a state is done by Parliament through a simple majority, based on a resolution passed by the State Legislative Assembly by a special majority. The composition of the Legislative Council under Article 171 includes members elected by local bodies, graduates, teachers, and members nominated by the Governor, in addition to those elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly.

2. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements:

With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
2. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

Statement 1 is incorrect. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is subject to economic cycles and various domestic and global factors. It rarely increases steadily over a decade; there are typically fluctuations, periods of faster growth, and periods of slowdown. Statement 2 is correct. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (Nominal GDP in rupees) reflects both the increase in the volume of goods and services produced (real growth) and the increase in prices (inflation). Over a decade, even with fluctuations in real growth, the combined effect of positive real growth (on average) and inflation almost guarantees a steady increase in nominal GDP in absolute rupee terms, year after year.

Nominal GDP (at market prices) in a growing economy like India typically increases every year due to real growth and inflation, while the rate of Real GDP growth is volatile and does not increase steadily over long periods.

Real GDP growth is a measure of the increase in the volume of production, adjusted for inflation. It indicates the actual expansion of the economy’s output capacity. Nominal GDP is the value of goods and services at current market prices. It reflects both volume changes and price changes. Over any typical decade in a developing economy with positive inflation and average positive real growth, nominal GDP tends to show a consistent upward trend, unlike the growth *rate* of real GDP.

3. Which one of the following was given classical language status

Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

Odia

Konkani

Bhojpuri

Assamese

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

The question asks which language was *recently* given classical language status. The Indian government criteria for classical language status were announced in 2004. Tamil was the first language to be granted this status in 2004, followed by Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Among the given options, Odia was the most recent addition (as of 2014 when this question was likely framed or relevant).

The status of ‘Classical Language’ in India is granted by the Government of India based on specific criteria. Odia was the sixth language to receive this status.

The criteria for declaring a language as classical include: high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over 1500-2000 years; a body of ancient literature/texts, considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; the literary tradition being original and not borrowed from another speech community; and the classical language and literature being distinct from modern, though there may be a continuity. As of the latest updates, six languages have been granted this status.

4. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the f

With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.
2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.
3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

Statement 1 is correct; the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is indeed a global partnership involving various stakeholders including governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and indigenous peoples. Statement 3 is also correct; FCPF’s primary objective is to assist developing countries in their REDD+ efforts (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+) by providing them with financial and technical assistance to build their capacity for REDD+ implementation. Statement 2 is incorrect; while the facility supports activities related to sustainable forest management within the REDD+ framework, its focus is on supporting countries and specific REDD+ programs/projects rather than directly providing financial aid to individual scientists or universities for general scientific forestry research.

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), administered by the World Bank, is focused on REDD+ readiness and implementation, providing financial and technical support to developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

REDD+ is a framework created by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) to guide activities that reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. The ‘+’ signifies the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. FCPF works towards building the necessary systems and capacity in developing countries to participate in future systems of positive incentives for REDD+.

5. The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of

The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of

an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence

India's satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim

a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region

India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

‘IndARC’ is the name of India’s first underwater moored observatory deployed in the Arctic region. It was set up by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) to collect data and conduct scientific studies related to the Arctic climate and its influence on global processes.

IndARC is India’s contribution to Arctic scientific research, providing continuous data on oceanographic parameters to understand climate change in the Arctic.

India has a research station in the Arctic called Himadri, located in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway. IndARC is an underwater observatory complementing the research conducted at Himadri by providing oceanographic data. The Arctic region is crucial for understanding global climate patterns, and India’s research efforts there contribute to international scientific endeavors.

6. Consider the following States : 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pr

Consider the following States :

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram

In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests are found in areas with high rainfall (typically over 200 cm annually) and high temperatures throughout the year. These conditions are prevalent in parts of Northeast India, including Arunachal Pradesh (in lower elevations) and Mizoram. Himachal Pradesh, being a Himalayan state, has primarily temperate and alpine forest types, not tropical wet evergreen forests. Therefore, Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests occur in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

Tropical Wet Evergreen forests are characterized by dense vegetation, tall trees, and multiple layers of canopy, found in warm and very wet regions. In India, they are primarily located in the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The diverse topography and climate of India lead to a variety of forest types. Arunachal Pradesh, being in the eastern Himalayas, has a range of forests from tropical evergreen in the foothills to alpine meadows at higher altitudes. Mizoram, part of the Lushai Hills in Northeast India, falls within the tropical monsoon climate zone with heavy rainfall, supporting evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Himachal Pradesh’s vegetation varies with altitude, including subtropical, temperate, and alpine zones.

7. In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) s

In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?

Assessment of crop productivity
Locating groundwater resources
Mineral exploration
Telecommunications
Traffic studies

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3 only

4 and 5 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites are Earth observation satellites used for various applications involving surveying and monitoring the Earth’s surface. Statement 1 (Assessment of crop productivity), Statement 2 (Locating groundwater resources), and Statement 3 (Mineral exploration) are all standard and significant applications of remote sensing data obtained from IRS satellites. Statement 4 (Telecommunications) is incorrect as telecommunication services are provided by communication satellites (like the INSAT or GSAT series). Statement 5 (Traffic studies) is also a potential application using high-resolution remote sensing data for urban planning and infrastructure monitoring, but given the options, the most prominent and core applications listed are 1, 2, and 3. Option A includes 1, 2, and 3 only, which are definitive applications.

Indian Remote Sensing satellites are designed for monitoring and mapping the Earth’s resources and environment. Their applications include agriculture, water resources, forestry, geology, land use mapping, disaster management, and urban studies.

India has one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in the world. These satellites provide crucial data for various national development activities and research purposes. While traffic studies can potentially use remote sensing data (e.g., satellite imagery for mapping roads, analyzing traffic flow patterns in urban areas), the primary established applications listed among the options are resource identification and management (1, 2, 3).

8. Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following?

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following?

Gravitational force of the Sun
Gravitational force of the Moon
Centrifugal force of the Earth

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

Tides are primarily caused by the gravitational pull exerted by the Moon and the Sun on the Earth’s oceans. The gravitational force of the Moon is the dominant factor due to its closer proximity to Earth. Additionally, the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the Earth-Moon system around its common center of mass also contributes to tidal bulges on the side of Earth opposite to the Moon. Therefore, the gravitational forces of both the Sun and the Moon, along with the centrifugal force of the Earth’s rotation (within the Earth-Moon system), contribute to the occurrence of tides. All three statements are correct.

The primary forces causing tides are the gravitational attraction of the Moon and the Sun and the inertial (centrifugal) force of the Earth-Moon system.

The gravitational pull is strongest on the side of Earth facing the Moon, creating a bulge. On the opposite side, the centrifugal force (acting outwards from the center of the Earth-Moon system’s rotation) is relatively stronger than the Moon’s gravitational pull, creating another bulge. These bulges are the high tides. Low tides occur in the areas between the bulges. The Sun’s gravity also influences tides, causing spring tides (larger tides when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned) and neap tides (smaller tides when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other relative to Earth).

9. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of l

In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in

Meghalaya

Himachal Pradesh

Jharkhand

Tamil Nadu

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

The unique ‘living root bridges’, locally known as Jing Kieng Jri, are found in the state of Meghalaya in Northeast India. They are created by the Khasi and Jaintia people by training the aerial roots of the Indian Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) across streams and rivers. Over time, these roots grow thicker and stronger, forming robust, living bridges.

Living root bridges are a fascinating example of bioengineering and sustainable infrastructure, primarily found in the southern part of Meghalaya, known for its high rainfall and dense forests.

These bridges are naturally self-renewing and grow stronger with time, contrasting with man-made structures that require maintenance and eventually deteriorate. Some of these bridges are hundreds of years old. They are a significant cultural and ecological heritage site and a major tourist attraction in Meghalaya.

10. Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?

Swadeshi Movement

Quit India Movement

Non-Cooperation Movement

Civil Disobedience Movement

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2015

Download PDF Attempt Online

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908), which emerged in response to the Partition of Bengal, intensified existing ideological differences within the Indian National Congress. The ‘Moderates’ preferred constitutional methods and dialogue, while the ‘Extremists’ advocated for passive resistance, boycott of foreign goods and institutions, and mass mobilisation. These differences culminated in the Surat Split of 1907, formally dividing the Congress into these two factions.

The Swadeshi Movement provided the context and immediate catalyst for the fundamental disagreements between the Moderate and Extremist wings of the Indian National Congress regarding the methods and goals of the national movement, ultimately leading to the split at the Surat session in 1907.

The Quit India Movement (1942), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934) were significant phases of the Indian independence struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. While these movements also saw internal dynamics within the Congress, the primary split between Moderates and Extremists is historically associated with the period of the Swadeshi Movement and the Surat Split.